Typed by: Jan Shelfer
FEATHERSTON, JOHN BRYANT
Surnames: FEATHERSTON, BRYANT, GAINES, DE GRAFFENRIED, BAILEY, STACEY,
HOLLAND
John Bryant Featherston, b. July 20, 1891 at Chilton, d. January 5, 1976 and
buried in Chilton Cemetery, Falls County, Texas-was a son of John Henry and Lou
Annie (Bryant) Featherston. The family tradition of being merchants was carried
on into the third generation of Featherstons, when John Bryant became a
merchant.
On April 3, 1915, John Bryant was married to Sambo Gaines, b. November 25, 1894
in Rosebud, Falls County, Texas, d. 1984 in Falls County, Texas and buried by
her husband-a daughter of Sidney Johnson and Katherine Jenna (de Graffenried)
Gaines-the latter being a descendant of pioneer settlers in The Republic of
Texas.
John Bryant Featherston built the J. B. Featherston building in Chilton, and was
an officer of the Chilton Bank. He donated land for the Chilton Pirates Football
Field, and was active in all school and civic affairs. The Featherston family
were members of the Church of Christ in Chilton.
John Bryant and Sambo (Gaines) Featherston had four children:
Jenna Lou Featherston, b. March 21, 1917-married Blake Bailey, and had Blake
Henry Bailey, Sidney Johnson Bailey, and Jack Eugene Bailey.
Jack Gaines Featherston, b. December 6, 1918-married first to Mary Jo Stacey of
Marlin, Texas, and had a son, Gary Stacey Featherston, who died at age 14 in
1968. Jack married second, and his wife died in 1985. He continues to reside in
Chilton, Texas.
Hinda Featherston, b. April 3, 1921-married L. R. Holland, and had Richard
Gaines Holland and Sam Featherston Holland, b. January 4, 1949, d. June 1, 1949.
She returned to live in Chilton after the death of her mother-owning the small
next door to the Featherston family home, which was sold out of the family.
John Henry Featherstone-added an "e' to the end of his name, b. October 17,
1927-married and had John Neal Featherston and Marilyn Featherston (who both
dropped the "e" which their father continues to use). John Henry is a minister
in the Church of Christ, and lives in New York.
Sambo (Gaines) Featherston was known countywide for her numerous activities in
the Chilton area and elsewhere, during her long life.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing this bio of these
Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County," compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 148, column 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission
